Monday, February 6, 2012

Be wild, be smart, be tough - Our guiding horses

Cayuses are the Canadian wild horses. Like Mustangs in the USA, Cayuses are still inhabiting the remote wilderness of British Columbia. All Cayuses are decendants of the Spanish horses brought by Cortes in the early XVIth century. A herd of about 100 lives in the Brittany Triangle by Nemiah Valley (Chilcotin District), they have been roaming this mountainous area for over 200 years. Smaller herds can be found in other areas of British Columbia.

Cayuses have always been known for being hardy and tireless. Click here to read the extraordinary story of one brave little Cayuse pony...

Most of our guiding horses are Cayuses, caught directly out of the wilderness and trained. Their wild instinct is a fantastic asset: they are trail-smart, sure-footed, brave and persistent, capable of going safely on very challenging terrain where you wouldn’t imagine horses can go, meaning they are excellent guiding horses. Familiar with our local wildlife, they have no fear when encountering other animals, even predators like bears, black bear or grizzly. Most of them have some draft horse in them, which makes them calm, patient and trustable guiding horses.

Unfortunately, wild horses are not protected in British Columbia, which makes their future uncertain in the province. They are considered a pest by many and hunting wild horses is not illegal…

About Chilcotin Holidays

We are a licensed guide outfitter and we conduct guided wilderness adventures throughout our 5,000 square km operating area. This guide area has been operational since 1880, making it the oldest in British Columbia. More about us HERE.